n.YMOITir ROCK STAMtMflt A V/> HltKED BOOK 7 



Buff. A yellow-toned brown, that is, a yellow darkened with 



red and black. Different shades of buff are found, ranging 

 from lemon buff to a distinct reddish-yellow. Bearing in mind 

 that yellow is the color of gold, the "rich, golden buff" called 

 for by the Standard must be understood to be a golden yellow. 



Gray. This color, as applied to Plymouth Rocks, is used 

 chiefly in connection with the appearance of objectionable dark 

 markings in feathers that should be clear white or other color. 

 Gray is a black reduced with white until it is of a dull, neutral 

 shade. Black as a disqualification or defect must be "positive" 

 black, that is, unmodified by white. 



Purple. As applied to the black feathers of fowls usually 

 appears in the form of barring, and is commonly supposed to 

 be indicative of "too much luster." Both purple and green 

 apparently are produced by the reflection of light from prismatic 

 black feathers. The exact reason why some feathers show green 

 shades and some purple is not clearly understood. It is probable 

 that the purple is due to a reddish element, which tends to crop 

 out as a result of poor breeding. 



Red. This is supposed to be the original color of fowls, and 

 in crosses or in careless breeding is liable to appear at any time. 

 Fowls of all colors, apparently, carry red as a latent color factor. 

 Red in Barred, White or Columbian Plymouth Rocks is a dis- 

 qualifying defect. 



White. Pure white is a dead white, without any other shade, 

 though, as a matter of fact, what passes for a pure white has a 

 bluish tinge, as a rule. It is common knowledge that the 

 "whitest" white fowls are very apt to have some feathers with a 

 light flecking of gray where the black pigment, which gives the 

 bluish tint, has become too conspicuous. 



Silvery white is pure white with a sheen, as often seen in the 

 hackle and saddle feathers of male Silver Penciled Rocks. 



Yellow. This is the color of beaks, shanks and feet in most 

 varieties of Plymouth Rocks, which are clear, rich yellow, closely 

 approaching lemon-yellow. Yellow also is an important color 

 in the plumage of fowls, though it never appears there as a pure 

 color being modified in all cases by reds and blacks, thus pro- 

 ducing buff, bay and brown shades of varying degrees of inten- 

 sity. (H.T.J.) 



